News from April 30. Alan Henderson (Atl) won the Most Improved Player Award. Henderson received 33 of the possible 116 media votes. Henderson averaged 14.3 points (7.9 point improvement) and 6.4 rebounds (2.1 rebound improvement). Corliss Williamson (Sac) received 25 votes, Donyell Marshall (GS) received 24 votes, Nick Anderson (Orl) received 6 votes, Michael Finley (Dal) received 6 votes, Theo Ratliff (Phi) received 5 votes, Kobe Bryant (LAL) received 3 votes, Vin Baker (Sea) received 2 votes, Lamond Murray (LAC) received 2 votes, Bo Outlaw (Orl) received 2 votes, Antoine Walker (Bos) received 2 votes, John Wallace (Tor) received 2 votes, Matt Geiger (Cha) received 1 vote, Karl Malone (Uta) received 1 vote, Jalen Rose (Ind) received 1 vote, and Rod Strickland (Was) received 1 vote. Vince Carter (junior, F-G, UNC) declared himself eligible for the NBA draft. Larry Johnson (NY) and Alonzo Mourning (Mia) got into a fight in the closing seconds of last night's (Thursday) NY-Mia game. Both threw several punches [though none connected] and, thus, will be suspended for game 5. The NBA has a policy that a thrown punch results in an automatic suspension. More details of the fallout of the brawl to come. Ind 80, Cle 74 - at Cle Chris Mullin (Ind) had 12 points including 5-6 FG. Rik Smits (Ind) had 17 points and 6 rebounds. Reggie Miller (Ind) had 19 points and 8 turnovers. Antonio Davis (Ind) had 11 points and 9 rebounds. Shawn Kemp (Cle) had 21 points including 9-12 FT, 12 rebounds, 3 steals, and 6 turnovers. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cle) had 15 points and 5 rebounds. Derek Anderson (Cle) had 18 points including 8-10 FT. Indiana takes the series 3-1 and will face the winner of the Mia-NY series in the second round. NY 90, Mia 85 - at NY Larry Johnson (NY) had 18 points including 5-15 FG and 9 rebounds including 7 offensive. Allan Houston (NY) had 18 points. John Starks (NY) had 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. Alonzo Mourning (Mia) had 29 points on 11-14 FG and 7-11 FT and 6 rebounds. Tim Hardaway (Mia) had 33 points including 5-11 3-pointers and 9 assists. Patrick Ewing (NY, dislocated right wrist) and Dan Majerle (Mia, pulled left groin) did not play. The series is tied 2-2. Sea 92, Min 88 - at Min Detlef Schrempf (Sea) had 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Vin Baker (Sea) had 13 points including 1-8 FT, 12 rebounds, and 3 steals. Hersey Hawkins (Sea) had 24 points including 4-8 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Gary Payton (Sea) had 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Terry Porter (Min) had 13 points and 6 assists. Kevin Garnett (Min) had 20 points including 9-14 FG, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. Anthony Peeler (Min) had 19 points including 5-8 3-pointers and 5 rebounds. Stanley Roberts (Min, sore back) did not play. The series is tied 2-2. LAL 110, Por 99 - at Por Rick Fox (LAL) had 16 points and 9 rebounds. Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) had 31 points including 13-17 FG, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 22 points. Nick Van Exel (LAL) had 14 points and 7 assists. Rasheed Wallace (Por) had 17 points including 3-3 3-pointers. Brian Grant (Por) had 18 points and 12 rebounds. Damon Stoudamire (Por) had 24 points including 4-9 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists. The LA Lakers take the series 3-1 and will face the winner of the Sea-Min series in the second round. Playoff Standings 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Finals (Best of 5) (Best of 7) (Best of 7) (Best of 7) 1 Utah (1) _____ 8 Houston (2) |_ ________________ _ _ 5 San Antonio (0) | 4 Phoenix (1) _| |_ _____________ _ 5 San Antonio (3) _ _____________ | | | 2 Seattle (2) ___ | | 7 Minnesota (2) |_ _______________ ___| | _ 3 LA Lakers (0) | 3 LA Lakers (3) ___| | 6 Portland (1) |_ ___________ _ ___________ | 1 Chicago (3) __ | 8 New Jersey (0) |_ 1 Chicago (0) ____ | _ _____________ | | 4 Charlotte (2) ___| | | 5 Atlanta (1) |_ _____________ _| _ _____________ 2 Miami (2) ____ | 7 New York (2) |_ _____________ _____| _ _____________ 3 Indiana (2) ___| 6 Cleveland (1)